Employment: A new career in a year

By Rob Gerlsbeck on January 27, 2010
Estimated reading time: 3 minutes

Need a new job fast? These nine careers pay decent bucks with just 12 months or less of training

Truck Driver In demand? An aging fleet of big-rig operators means jobs aplenty for a new generation of drivers. What you need: A few weeks at a truck driving school, then pass the provincial tractor-trailer driver’s test and you’ll be hollering “10-4, good buddy” in no time. It helps if: You don’t mind diner food. What you can earn: Even 18-wheeler newbies can pull in $40,000 a year. An experienced driver can make $70,000. Welder In demand? All skilled trades are in demand these days, but those who know their way around a torch will benefit the most from government infrastructure spending and a resurgent oil and gas sector. What you need: A one-year college certificate. It helps if: You know a bit of math (and like melting stuff). What you can earn: $30,000 to start. Become an apprentice and get your journeyman’s ticket to earn $90,000. Air Traffic Controller In demand? NAV Canada says it’s always looking for recruits. What you need: If you do well in an online test, you’ll be invited in for an interview and more tests. The chosen few then spend anywhere from four to 14 months in the classroom, do a few months of paid training, and are guaranteed a job somewhere in Canada. It helps if: You have ice in your veins. What you can earn: Your salary will rise as fast as a 747: anywhere from $60,000 to $125,000 a year. Web Designer In demand? The world is moving online. Someone has to make the place look good. What you need: A streamlined one-year course in web design, offered by some colleges, is enough to launch your career. It helps if: You’re the creative type. What you can earn: Up to $45,000. At first you’ll be doing the grunt work on the web support desk and maybe creating those annoying little banner ads, but with promotions, you could move to $60,000 within a couple years. Financial adviser In demand? Banks, insurance companies and investment firms are constantly looking for people to sell their financial products. What you need: Many colleges offer one-year financial services programs. It helps if: You’re a natural-born salesman, as most companies pay on commission. What you can earn: $40,000, plus up to another $20,000 in bonuses. If you’re talented, expect to make six figures soon. Public Relations Professional In demand? PR used to be all about pitching articles to journalists. Now it’s everything from acting as gatekeeper of your company’s reputation, to organizing marketing events, to writing the CEO’s blog. What you need: If you have a university degree already, a one-year certificate program at a community college will fast-track your PR career. It helps if: A gift for gab and writing attention-getting copy. What you can earn: $30,000 to $60,000 to start. Seasoned PR experts can make $90,000 and up. Office Administrator In demand? Don’t call them secretaries. Today’s office administrator keeps businesses humming smoothly. And, yes, they’re in demand. What you need: A college certificate in office administration. It helps if: You’re super organized. What you can earn: Around $30,000 to start. Don’t expect big raises, however. Cobbler In demand? Shoe repair shops are bustling places these days and expert cobblers are hard to come by. What you need: Convince a shoe repair shop to hire and train you. It helps if: You love shoes. (Honest, that’s what veteran cobblers told us.) What you can earn: Around $22,000 while learning the trade. Qualified shoe repairman can make over $30,000. Health care assistant In demand? As our population ages, nursing homes and seniors’ residences are staffing up. What you need: A certificate from a one-year community college program. It helps if: You enjoy helping people. What you can earn: Around $30,000.